Thousands bid farewell to fallen FDNY hero

Thousands of people gathered Friday to pay their final respects Friday to fallen FDNY firefighter Steven Pollard.

Droves of people lined the street outside Good Shepherd Church to honor the firefighter who lost his life responding to a crash on the Belt Parkway on Jan. 6.

Mayor Bill de Blasio, Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro and Pollard's coworkers were among those who spoke at the funeral.

"I was with Steve the night he passed. Steven Pollard died not thinking of himself, but trying to help others," says firefighter Timothy Klein. "Stevie, it breaks my heart to know that the days working alongside you are over."

Many say Pollard had firefighting in his blood. His father is a retired firefighter and his brother is an active member of the FDNY.

Those who knew Pollard say he was just beginning his career with the FDNY, but had already made a huge impact.

The impact was evident by the outpouring of support at his wake the past two days. The line at Marine Park Funeral Home stretched out the door and for nearly two blocks. Many toldNews 12 they didn't know the 30-year-old personally, but all wanted to honor the sacrifice he made.

Pollard, who was assigned to Ladder Company 170, responded to a crash on the Belt Parkway just east of Flatbush Avenue late Sunday night. Investigators say Pollard was running to help a man injured in the accident when he slipped into a gap in the bridge and plunged about 50 feet. The medical examiner ruled his death an accident.

His colleagues fought back tears remembering him this week.

"He had such a promising future ahead of him, I mean he was going to, he was going to be the anchor, one of the anchors in the firehouse going forward. We were going to have a transition in the next couple of years and he was going to be the guy leading us," says FDNY Captain Jimmy Quinn.

A growing memorial has popped up outside of Ladder 170, with flowers and a poster that reads, "We love our firefighters."